A new medical study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that women who drink have a higher suicide risk and higher rates of insomnia, but this same link does not necessarily hold true for men. Mississippi State University researchers found that the insomnia symptoms women suffered determined their alcohol use and their suicide risks. Assistant professor Michael Nadorff, Ph.D, explained “These results are important as they help demonstrate that alcohol use is associated with an increase in suicide risk, and that this increase may be partially due to insomnia symptoms. By better understanding this relationship, and the mechanisms associated with increased risk, we can better design interventions to reduce suicide risk.” This knowledge could lead to more effective treatments for insomnia in order to lower the risk of suicide and the rate of alcohol use.

The latest medical study on alcohol use, insomnia symptoms, and suicide risk among women can be found in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 375 study participants completed a detailed questionnaire online that discussed topics such as nightmares, alcohol use, symptoms of insomnia experienced, and suicidal risk factors. Roughly 1 in 10 Americans have a condition called chronic insomnia disorder, while approximately 1 in 5 Americans have short term insomnia disorder at some point. Women tend to experience both types of insomnia disorder more frequently than men. According to the CDC around 88,000 people in the USA die each year from alcohol use and related factors. Over 38,000 Americans commit suicide each year, and this cause of death is ranked number 10.